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Sixty-two percent of financial advisers agree that social networking is here to stay, saying that social media will have a lasting impact on the financial services industry, Rydex Advisor Benchmarking, 2010.

In the most basic sense, FINRA has determined that any registered representative who participates in a social media networking platform is subject to the same regulations that would govern an in-person presentation or public appearance. In other words, Internet-based social media communications must be viewed and monitored in the very same way as in-person conversations and written communications.

The same rules for suitability apply online as they do in-person. If a product is not suitable for your entire network (and it probably never will be), don’t post it.

Static vs. interactive content
There are two main types of content regulation: static and interactive. Static content includes website content, social network profiles and background images. Static content is considered to be the same as an advertisement and requires pre-approval from an agency principal. Appropriate records need to be kept of all content and changes made.
The other type of content regulation is interactive. The majority of social media usage will fall under interactive content, since participation in social media is a continual dialog — first listening, then contributing to the conversation. Examples of interactive content include blog posts, tweets, Facebook status updates, LinkedIn updates, comments, instant messaging and webinars.

Although pre-approval is not necessary for interactive content, archiving is. It allows the firm to not only keep a record of popular posts, content and information, but also keeps a record of suitable content and possible inappropriate usage. There are several software programs out there that can monitor and record all social media usage stemming from your firm and its employees. Arkovi is one of the leading social middleware programs that focuses on social
networking policy management.

Bottom line
Use common sense. If you wouldn’t say it offline, don’t say on the Internet.

Are you securities licensed? If so, it is crucial that you and your organization are aware of the current regulations set forth by FINRA and how to implement these systems effectively.

Consult your broker/dealer for their current social media policy. Some broker/dealers have a blanket NO policy in regards to social media usage, while many others realize the importance and are starting to embrace the benefits.

If you are an RIA or life/health licensed, there are not as many hoops to jump through in regards to compliance; however, we recommend following the guidelines set forth by FINRA.

About the Author

Entrepreneur, author, speaker, and worldwide connector, Amy McIlwain is recognized internationally for radical new ways of thinking about Social Media, PR, marketing, advertising, and customer service.
A former NCAA Division I Soccer player, Amy started building and designing Websites back in th... More